Student Profile Archives

Dana Moat
Making the Change!

Delving into the unknown can be very difficult, especially if you are comfortable with where you are. But for many, comfort isn’t always a good enough reason to stay. Dana Moat, a UMBC Instructional Systems Design (ISD) graduate student, is a person who came to this realization, and as a result, made a change in his life that placed him at Johns Hopkins Hospital working as an instructional designer – a job he simply loves.

In the years leading up to his career change, Moat received his B.A. in Sociology from the State University of New York at Cortland in May 1995. He worked in the human services field

with individuals with developmental disabilities and/or psychiatric diagnoses. Moat was primarily responsible for working with disabled adults teaching them vocational/social skills so they could function independently in society.

“Although I loved the work I was doing, and felt great purpose doing it, I knew there was even more I needed to explore,” he said.

Shortly after this revelation, Moat took some computer science courses and dabbled in teaching. He enjoyed both so much that he wanted to find a way to incorporate technology and teaching into his work. Researching this possibility, he discovered UMBC’s Instructional Systems Development – Training Systems graduate program.

“From the onset, I knew I wanted to focus my teaching interests on adults and gain more insight into technology. So, in the fall of 2005 I enrolled in the Instructional Technology Masters Program.”

As an ISD student, he has interned and completed his project seminar under Ginny Story with the Baltimore County Office of Human Resources. There he developed e-learning modules that are now available to all Baltimore County employees.

“There are so many opportunities to take advantage of as a student,” he said.

In addition to his internship and project seminar, Moat has also utilized UMBC’s services to revamp his resume and to network. He values the career services available to students.

Today, as an instructional designer with The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Moat incorporates many of the skills and techniques he has learned in class into daily life at his workplace.

"The skills I gained at UMBC in areas of project management, adult learning theory and other ISD foundational and technological skills are proving invaluable to me!”

Change has proven to be a very good thing for Moat. He has gained a new approach, perspective and vocation by which to live his life and thrive in his career.

“Making a change, even when it wasn’t comfortable, was the best thing for me. I would recommend professional development to anyone wishing to pursue a commitment to lifelong learning.”